#522. 3-D Printing

3-D Printing

It isn’t every day that a new technology surfaces that looks to revolutionize an industry. But that is exactly what we are seeing with the advancements in 3D printing and its potential impact on the manufacturing industry. Below are excerpts from an article that appeared on IndustryWeek.com.

3-D Printing and the Cloud: A Natural Fit for Manufactures
Gavin Davidson, NetSuite, 2015-02-20

The potential for 3-D printing is like something out of Star Trek.

Fans of the TV and film series got a glimpse of 3-D printing with the “replicator,” a device that could produce spare parts, food and other necessities aboard the USS Enterprise.

A few decades later, 3-D printing has leapt from science fiction into the mainstream.

For manufacturers, the disruptive implications of 3-D printing are massive. Evangelists envision that manufacturers can slash lead times and net huge cost savings in materials, labor and transportation.

The global supply chain shrinks, and R&D cycles hit warp speed across collaborative design networks. Mass-personalized goods can be manufactured in a batch size of one, meeting business and consumer demand for products built to exacting specifications.

3-D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is still in its infancy, but many manufacturers are not waiting on the sidelines.

A survey by the global consultancy PwC found that 67% of manufacturers are adopting 3-D printing in some way, most frequently in prototyping. Just 9% of manufacturers don’t envision ever adopting 3-D printing. The availability of 3-D printers through Amazon, Home Depot, Sears and others is helping fuel momentum in the nascent industry.

“For some industries and some products, the concept of 3DP-enabled ‘on-demand’ manufacturing could radically change business models and supply chains,” said PwC’s Robert McCutcheon, partner, U.S. Industrial Products Sector.

“It holds the potential to transform some manufacturing business models—and the complex, costly supply chains and distribution networks upon which they were built.”

3-D printing is already beginning to reshape how some manufacturers bring products to market, and more changes are on the way as the technology continues to mature and adoption rises.

By exploring the viability of a cloud environment for 3-D printing operations, manufacturers can take a first step towards future-proofing their businesses with the adaptability needed to take advantage of all that 3-D printing offers.

3-D printing is already beginning to reshape how some manufacturers bring products to market, and more changes are on the way as the technology continues to mature and adoption rises.

By exploring the viability of a cloud environment for 3-D printing operations, manufacturers can take a first step towards future-proofing their businesses with the adaptability needed to take advantage of all that 3-D printing offers.

Stay tuned! We will continue to watch this exciting technology and keep an eye on its impact on manufacturing!